Global Activity Management Director

This is a fantastic people leadership opportunity in Mars Global Food & Nutrition. As a core part of our Global Transformation and S&OP+ team, the Global Activity Management Director leads the team responsible for driving the on time, at quality delivery of key global initiatives (Innovation, VLS) and governs our 3-year portfolio pipeline. We are looking for a high impact change agent who can play a key role in accelerating and amplifying the deployment of our strategy in 2023 and beyond.

Job Purpose & Overview

• Lead, coach and develop the global Activity Management Team (5 direct, 11 total) and be Global CoE for all Regional Activity Management teams
• Part of the Global Transformation/S&OP+ LT charged with step changing rigour, discipline and pace of deployment of our strategy.
• Provide Global leadership as the owner & guardian of the delivery of the portfolio pipeline
• Own the shaping and management of the strategic cell portfolio (Menu Card) for the globe, including leading the global simplification agenda.
• Core part of the global S&OP+ team and strong stakeholder relationships across all functions
• Accountable for driving the creation of the 3-year portfolio pipeline globally,in collaboration with Innovation Directors and Regions.
• Facilitator of the GPMR, accountable for running an efficient, action oriented meeting that drives delivery of our innovation & portfolio optimization at pace through transparency of facts & data.
• Lead continuous improvement of digitizing signature processes; Quest and PPM
• Champion Meeting Effectiveness for all direct and indirect Activity Management led meetings
• Lead on driving/co-ordinating transversal (function & geography) activities (innovation, simplification, Enterprise VLS)

What are we looking for

• Candidate Location preference is UK (London or Waltham), but open to candidates in Paris, Belgium (Olen), Germany (Verden) or the Netherlands (Oud-Beijerland)
• Someone with a proven track record of:
  • Excellent people leadership & team engagement
  • Broad business acumen
  • Strong organisational skills & PMO experience
  • Influencing and managing multiple stakeholders in a matrix organisation
  • Curiosity, challenge & change
  • Strong Numerical mind-set
  • Data Modelling
  • Designing Effective solutions

Benefits & perks

• Salary: £124-145k GBP
• Annual bonus: 25%* (*paid in full if 100% of business targets are met)
• Car Allowance: £7.5k
• Hybrid/flexible working pattern
• Fantastic business breadth in experience
• Regular exposure to Global Food & Nutrition Leadership Team

What will be your key responsibilities?

1. Functional Delivery for global pipeline

• With global marketing, scale-up and align 3 year cell pipeline Initiatives to deliver on our portfolio blueprint and maximise value for the enterprise in a manner which is always consistent with our governance
• Through annual lock and load resource ensure resource is sufficient and/or drive escalation and trade off decisions needed
• X-functional leadership engagement and alignment (global / Regional / local)
• Support Business Growth by leading the Innovation Processes for the Strategic Cell:
• Quest
• Global Portfolio Management Review
• Stage/Gate
• Pipeline Management
• Menu Card & Guardrails

2. Part of global S&OP+ LT

• Drive the simplicity agenda inc global range rationalization, CI of Quest and PPM (to be fed into process lead)
• Drive the capacity and speed of our functions to deliver the innovation pipeline

3. Leads the Global PMR

• Prepare input and clear recommendation’s, support and provide guidance for the PMR (&feeder meetings) from a global and regional perspective on size of business, planning programs and shaping/rollout of global programs
• Track all GMBR/PMR/IR escalation topics from Mkt team and ensure communication back to the forums
• Ensure appropriate resource transparency is available to support pipeline efficiency and allow for prioritisation process in case of resource gaps – periodic alignment with all x-functional leaders
• Collect relevant input from acceleration team and regional PMR representatives to shape the right content for the periodic meeting
• Ensure all relevant documents are available for stage/gate approval process (Risk assessment, 1pager etc) and all 1pagers are in good quality (proper scope, right financial data, launch dates per market) and meeting the guardrail thresholds
• Drive fact based decision making through holding Activity Management, Innovation Directors and Global and Regional Marketing directors to account for timely, accurate data input.

4. Technical and Associate leadership of one of the most transformational functions at Mars Food & Nutrition today. Key stakeholder relationships with Mars F&N:

• Chief Growth Officer, VP Transformation, R&D VP
• Member of the S&OP+ LT
• Lead global Activity Management in Mars Food & Nutrition
• Champion of effective Strategy Deployment incl. meeting effectiveness & process optimization

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

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